31 MARCH 2015

Rosa Wins as Foreman Returns

Jerry Glick reporting from ringside: Luis Rosa 123, New Haven, CT, 12-0 (6 KOs), remained unbeaten in his first main event on DiBella Entertainment’s show at BB Kings in Times Square, NY, with a unanimous hard fought eight round decision over Derrick Wilson,122, Fort Meyers, FL, 9-3-2 (3 KOs).

They traded the advantages along with a high volume of punches. They threw punches for a full three minutes per round. Things were fairly even in the early going but Rosa began to take control in the middle rounds with a strong body attack. The Judges gave it to Rosa with scores of 80-72, and 77-75 two times. Brown refereed.

Yuri Foreman 154, Brooklyn, NY, 29-2 (8 KOs), said after his fast six against journeyman Brandon Baue 157 ½, St. Charles, MO, 12-10, (10 KOs), that he felt rusty after almost two years away from the ring, “It felt good to be back, but I felt very, very rusty,” said the former champion. “I was more nervous than usual. I’m just happy to shed some rust and get the rounds in.” But he didn’t appear rusty as he danced rings around Baue.

Two fights ago he put up a brave stand against Miguel Cotto when Foreman suffered a serious leg injury and the loss of his title.

Using his jab and now healthy legs, Foreman kept things at long range and used side to side/in and out movement to keep his opponent confused and frustrate for most of the fight. Foreman’s fight is about speed of movement, not his power. He wanted to know that he can still do it and will fight another six or eight next before he will consider moving up in opposition. All three judges scored it 60-54 for the former WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion. Murdaugh refereed

Lamar Russ 161, Wilmington, NC, 12-0 (7 KOs), spent too much time giving up his advantage in height and reach by fighting Jose Medina 162, Quincy, MA, inside. Russ is tall and rather than fighting at long range, but instead traded punches for eight rounds against the stocky Medina. Still, his skills and punch output was enough to carry him to victory by scores of 78-74 twice, and 77-75 all for the unbeaten Russ. Earl Brown refereed.

Heather Hardy 122, Brooklyn, NY, 4-0 (0 KOs), threw too many punches for Peggy Maerz, 119, British, Colombia, Canada, 2-3-1, (0 KOs), earning a unanimous four round decision by scores of 39-37 twice, and 40-36. Hardy used her right to snap Maerz’ head back on a few occasions during the fourth frame to seal the win. Lee refereed.

Rangy Delen Parsley 159, Brooklyn, NY, 10-0(3 KOs), looked impressive throwing power shots with both hands to destroy a willing Tyrone Selders, 160, Baton Rouge, LA, 8-5 (6 KOs), ultimately landing a right at the end of the first and battering a staggering Selders for a full three minutes in round two. Referee Murdaugh called it off after the round ended.

Big Eugene Russell 240, Queens, NY, 1-0 (1 KO), slugged it out until just before the bell ending round one when he landed a series of hard punches when he trapped Granson Clark, 219, Dospalos, CA, 1-2 (1 KO),in a corner causing Clark to slump to the canvas to be counted out after the bell; officially a KO at 2:59 of the first. Brown refereed.

Skender Halili 148Ft. Worth, TX, 8-0 (8 KOs), got up from a knockdown in the second to score two knockdowns over opponent Roberto Crespo, 147 ½, Riverside, CA, 4-3 (0 KOs), and pounded him throughout looking for the early ending. He got it in the sixth and last round when he landed a crisp left uppercut that dropped Crespo prompting referee Shada Murdaugh to end the fight at 2:40 of the round.

Debuting Patrick Day 155, Freeport, NY, 1-0 (1 KO), needed less than a minute to crush Zach Kelley,156, Seminole, OK,1-2 (1 KO), landing a lightning fast right that put Kelley down. He was counted out on one knee by referee Brown at :59 of round one.

Neuky Santalesis, 133, Washington Heights, NY, 3-0 (2 KOs), traded punches evenly with shorter opponent Juan Javier Guerrero, 132, McAllen, TX, 0-1-1, for three minutes and twenty-two second when Santalesis planted a solid right to the chin that ended it all. Referee Lee did to bother not count.